My bicycle needs repairing. I have a replacement bolt to hold the back suspension on, but it is slightly too long and I ride in constant fear of it falling apart. The gears don't work and the brakes are shot. My girlfriend says she is going to get me a helmet so that I don't end up like the others where she works, eating through a straw, unable to speak.

I'm racing down Gloucester Road, trying to beat the pedestrians who have just started crossing the black and whites. I realise I'm not going to make it and begin braking. A kid on a scooter, bored of sitting behind the Good Driver, decides to swerve out onto the cycle path without looking. He brushes my leg and brakes, then speeds off shaking his head. I wave my fist at the receding figure and curse young people everywhere. Heart pounding I continue on my way, more cautious now.

Walking home from the Croft I notice a fight spilling out of the Cube. Not wishing to enhance/marr the venue's image, I can only describe the protagonists as geeks. There is a girl involved, which dampens the geek thing somewhat but the fighting was slapstick and drunken. I pause to watch, half ready to step in if it really kicks off and half fascinated by the ungainly, ludicrous eye-gouging and hair-pulling. The girl walks by me, eyes wide and squats a few feet away to pee behind a car. The gangly victor backs towards me, shouting abuse and threatening violence. Clearly neither is really hurt, just prepared to further engage in a grotesque parody of a street brawl. He arrives in time for the girl to pull up her knickers and link arms with him as they stumble down the street. Leave 'im, ee's not worf it! She says, watching me warily as they pass.